Chances are, if your homestead sits anywhere north of Texas this year, you have seen a fresh blanket of snow or two coat your land. If you live near where I do, that blanket didn't just fall, but has lasted for several weeks now (and counting). We all love the fluffy white stuff for our favorite wintertime traditions, such as snowman making, sledding and snowball fights, but … [Read more...] about Snow on the Fields
Livestock
Cow Milking 101
Its the time of year when many ranchers are weaning calves away from their mothers. While this can result in quite a bit of bawling and, depending on where you calf pen is located, some sleepless nights, it also signals the beginning of a great time to start getting some pure, unpasteurized, unhomogenized cow milk for you and your family (provided you haven't started already). … [Read more...] about Cow Milking 101
Goat Breed Profile: Nubians
Its been a while since we've talked goats on here, so I figured I should break this long-running oversight with a profile of one of my favorite breeds: Nubians! A hardy dairy option, Nubians have more going on than meets the eye. Read on for more. Heritage To start, the name Nubian is actually a tiny bit misleading. This breed actually originated in 19th century England, … [Read more...] about Goat Breed Profile: Nubians
5 Mistakes Real Pig Farmers Don’t Make
Death on the homestead is commonplace. Sometimes it's planned but many times it is not. And that’s one reason why most kids who grow up on a farm accept death so easily. It’s a hard lesson, but sometimes a tasty one as well… Shortly after getting our first homestead in Omaha, we decided to get three piglets. We’ve always been vehemently against mega hog farms and wanted to … [Read more...] about 5 Mistakes Real Pig Farmers Don’t Make
Second-Hand Critters: A Cautionary Tale
It’s not a good idea to find a babysitter on Craigslist. It’s not a good idea to buy full-grown animals on the Internet either. Almost no one sells you their good animals. You’re likely getting a scratch-and-dent model that could be sick, nervous, or destructive. It’s a lesson I learned when I bought a ewe online and ended up barbequing her a few weeks later. I got on the … [Read more...] about Second-Hand Critters: A Cautionary Tale
